Jim Cherry's Blog - Posts Tagged "novel"
Found an Old Review
I've been digging through my boxes, otherwise known as my "archive" and I found the first review of my first novel Becoming Angel and I was surprised that it was better than I remembered it being. I thought it would be fun to post it.
'Becoming Angel' by Johanna Medrano, College of Dupage Courier, November 9, 2001.
Written ten years ago, "Becoming Angel" is now gaining exposure and momentum. Jim Cherry, COD alumni, set his story in the west suburbs of Chicago. Coke, marijuana, parties, and sex set the backdrop for most of the action of the book.
The story revolves around John Beckett, a man searching for meaning in life. During his search he comes across Paige and falls in love with her.
The book reads like an episode of "Dawson's Creek" meets "Thirtysomething." Middle aged characters work during the day and party at night.
Beckett and many other characters booze and schmooze like they're still in college. In the midst of numerous party scenes where people are busy getting drunk, high, or laid, some deep observation or probing question about life pops up.
Cherry draws a lot of inspiration from Jim Morrison resulting in Classic Rock being a driving force in the story.
References to the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin are sprinkled throughout and set the mood and pace.
Although the dialogue between characters and Beckett's stream of consciousness are sometimes hard to follow, and some chapters seem to serve as insignificant time markers, Cherry makes up for it with a thought provoking ending.
"A journey of the soul" is how Jim Cherry describes the book.
Xlibris, who published the book describes it as a "a diamond in the rough, a good story and a promise for the future."
When this came out I thought it was a good review. Reading it today I think it's a little more insightful then I remembered it being. She absolutely got the music being a factor of the story, something I think you can still find in my writing today. She's also right about the stream of consciousness in that book. Like many first novels its a roman a clef, and I did think some of it was obscure at best, I tried to straighten it out as best I could before publishing it. I also think I over edited it. Occasionally, I go back and reread portions of it and I think it's a pretty good book, yes, it has some scenes that make me blush but only because how self-conscious they seem. I think it could have been a pretty good release if it had an editor.
'Becoming Angel' by Johanna Medrano, College of Dupage Courier, November 9, 2001.
Written ten years ago, "Becoming Angel" is now gaining exposure and momentum. Jim Cherry, COD alumni, set his story in the west suburbs of Chicago. Coke, marijuana, parties, and sex set the backdrop for most of the action of the book.
The story revolves around John Beckett, a man searching for meaning in life. During his search he comes across Paige and falls in love with her.
The book reads like an episode of "Dawson's Creek" meets "Thirtysomething." Middle aged characters work during the day and party at night.
Beckett and many other characters booze and schmooze like they're still in college. In the midst of numerous party scenes where people are busy getting drunk, high, or laid, some deep observation or probing question about life pops up.
Cherry draws a lot of inspiration from Jim Morrison resulting in Classic Rock being a driving force in the story.
References to the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin are sprinkled throughout and set the mood and pace.
Although the dialogue between characters and Beckett's stream of consciousness are sometimes hard to follow, and some chapters seem to serve as insignificant time markers, Cherry makes up for it with a thought provoking ending.
"A journey of the soul" is how Jim Cherry describes the book.
Xlibris, who published the book describes it as a "a diamond in the rough, a good story and a promise for the future."
When this came out I thought it was a good review. Reading it today I think it's a little more insightful then I remembered it being. She absolutely got the music being a factor of the story, something I think you can still find in my writing today. She's also right about the stream of consciousness in that book. Like many first novels its a roman a clef, and I did think some of it was obscure at best, I tried to straighten it out as best I could before publishing it. I also think I over edited it. Occasionally, I go back and reread portions of it and I think it's a pretty good book, yes, it has some scenes that make me blush but only because how self-conscious they seem. I think it could have been a pretty good release if it had an editor.
The Blood Moon Feeds on my Dreams
Reading a friends book, The Blood Moon Feeds on my Dreams by Douglas Lumsden. Hybrid of 1930's noir detective novel with modern touches, a non-binary couple but also with traditional tropes of the genre mixed in with supernatural elements, dwarves, elves, trolls, witches. Makes for a fresh take on the genre.
Damn, can't get the book cover into the post but you can see it and get it on Amazon
Jim
Damn, can't get the book cover into the post but you can see it and get it on Amazon
Jim
